“I could just chain you to the bed if you prefer? Maybe I will, when we’re back.”

He stayed like that, his gaze burning into mine until I had to look away, conceding his win. Dominic pulled my door open and walked around to the other side without waiting for me to climb in. Once we were settled, he started the engine. A momentary panic came over me.

“What if someone’s there? They see me?”

“Scava thinks you’re at the cabin. No one’s looking for you. I called already. Told them all was well. That we were on schedule.”

I nodded as he drove out of the driveway, but my fear of Victor Scava—as nauseous as it made me to know I feared that man—was very real.

“Why didn’t he kill me? Wouldn’t that have been smart, in case I did know something?”

“You make a mistake if you think Victor Scava smart.”

He made light of it, but then his face grew serious.

“He didn’t want you fucked during the training either. The liaison was very specific.”

“What?”

Dominic glanced at me as he navigated around the still opening gate. “What I said. And from what you told me, he didn’t rape you. Did his men touch you?”

I shook my head. “He wouldn’t let them.”

“Why?”

“He was jealous of James. Maybe he wanted me for himself? He offered to spare me the branding if I fucked him. When I said no, he didn’t force himself on me.”

“And he sent you to me to train and sell off?”

“Maybe he planned on buying me himself.”

“Sick fuck. I wouldn’t put it past him. It would certainly return you…humbled.”

“Let’s talk about something else.”

“Library address.”

I gave it to him, and he programmed it into the GPS, studied the map, then turned the little machine off.

“I know where it is. It’ll be a little over an hour.”

I unwrapped one of the two bars.

“One of those for me?”

“No.” As I brought the one to my mouth, he reached over and took it, biting into it himself.

“Don’t be fucking rude, Gia.”

“Fuck you, Dominic.”

He grinned and shoved the rest of the bar into his mouth. “Shit. This is old.”

I smiled, but my stomach fluttered, and my face heated. I had to turn and watch the passing scenery out the side window, unable to take his intense gaze. It felt like he read me like a damned book.